Proportioning device



G. L. FQSH Feb. 18, E969 PROPORTIONITJG DEVICE Filed Dec. 20, 1955FORMED R m m N 6504 65 1.. PAS/1 BY 17 United States Patent 3,428,083PROPORTIONIN G DEVICE George L. Fish, 750 N. Main St., New Martinsville,W. Va. 26155 Filed Dec. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 515,085 U.S. Cl. 137-590 Int.Cl. E03b 11/00; F17d 1/00 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Thisinvention relates to a proportioning device and more particularly, to anintermittent flow divider which permits the distribution of flow inpredetermined proportions in diflerent directions.

In fractional distillation processes, it is necessary, generally, toreflux a portion of the condensate formed from the vapor boiledoverhead. This requires some sort of a flow divider to permit thecollection of the distillate while still enabling a controllable portionof the distillate to be returned to the still.

One suitable device of this type disclosed in US. Patent 2,293,257utilizes a deflector which is moved relative to the inlet therebydistributing the flow of material through the inlet into one or theother of two reception chambers. Devices of this type have foundwide-spread use, however, they are expensive to purchase and tomaintain. Such devices require an external means for moving thedeflection device within the chamber. This complex design is thereforesusceptible to corrosion and fouling from even mildly adverse processconditions.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved proportioningdevice. It is another object of this invention to provide an improvedproportioning device having no moving parts within the proportioningchamber. It is still another object of this invention to provide aneconomical proportioning device suitable for transmitting the desiredquantity of distillate back to the still.

The foregoing objects and others which will become apparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying drawings wherein FIGURES 1and 2 are diagrammatic views of two embodiments in accordance with thisinvention, are accomplished generally speaking, by providing a streamproportioning device having a chamber, the chamber having an inlet andfirst and second outlets. The first outlet is located to receive all ofthe flow from the inlet and has positioned therein a valve for openingand closing the first outlet, the second outlet is disposed to receivethe flow from the inlet when the valve positioned in the first outlet isclosed. A means is provided for opening and closing the valve located inthe first outlet to determine the flow from the inlet to either refluxor to product.

Referring particularly to the drawings, FIGURE 1 illustrates oneembodiment in accordance with this invention. A chamber 11 having asight-glass 13, an inlet 15, a first outlet 17 and a second outlet 19 isdisposed to receive the condensate from a still or fractionating column.One of the outlets, for example, the first outlet 17 is connected backto the still or fractionating column for reflux. The other outlet, forexample, the second outlet 19 is connected to the forward flow which iseither to product-storage or to further processing operations. The firstoutlet 17 as shown has a flared opening 21 to receive all of the flowfrom the inlet 15. Disposed within the first outlet 17 and without thechamber 11 is a valve 23 for interrupting the flow of fluid through thefirst inlet 17. A means 25 for intermittently opening and closing thevalve 23 is provided. One suitable means includes a double acting pistonconnected to the stem of the valve 23, by a suitable means, such as, forexample, a rack and pinion. The piston is operated by the flow of airinto the appropriate end of the cylinder thereby driving both the pistonand rack which turns the pinion and the valve. The air-flow can becontrolled by a solenoid 27 which operates in conjunction with an airdirecting valve 26. The solenoid 27 is actuated by a signal timer 29that can be set to give the correct ratio of reflux to forward flow.

In operation, as long as valve 23 is open, the material entering thechamber 11 through inlet 15 will flow through the first outlet 17 toreflux. Upon closing the valve 23, the first outlet, upstream of thevalve 23, will fill with fluid and overflow the first outlet 17 and flowout through the second outlet 19 either to product-storage or subsequentoperating procedures. It is possible, of course, to operate this devicein reverse; i.e., product through valve 23, reflux by overflow throughoutlet 19.

In the second embodiment shown in FIGURE 2, the fractionating column 40and condenser 42 are combined into one unit with an appropriatelydesigned trough 45 and 47 to collect the condensate (liquid). Theproportioning device is built directly into the column and is shown aschamber 41 having an inlet 45, a first outlet 47 and a second outlet 49.The first outlet 47 has a valve means 23 that is intermittently operatedin the same manner as that shown above with regard to FIGURE 1. In thecase shown in FIGURE 2, the forward flow passes through the valve 23.When valve 23 is closed, the condensate overflows the collection trough47 and passes out of the chamber 41 byway of the second outlet 49.

The apparatus described is advantageous from an economical view point,not only from the initial cost of the device, but also because of thesmall amount of maintenance required. Because of the lack of movingparts within the distributing device itself, no breakdown can occurwhich would require the complete disassembly of the system. Also, thedevice is advantageous in that it permits total reflux, total forwardflow or any fraction of either, depending upon the condition desired.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail in theforegoing for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood thatsuch detail is solely for this purpose and that variations can be madeby those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention except as is set forth in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for proportioning the condensate from a. fractionatingcolumn which comprises an enclosed chamber, said chamber having aninlet, a first outlet and a second outlet disposed therein, said firstoutlet being positioned to be capable of receiving all of the flow fromsaid inlet, said first outlet having a valve disposed therein said valvebeing disposed without the enclosed chamber, lValVe controlling meansadapted for opening and closing said valve, said second outlet beingdisposed to receive the flow from said inlet when said valve is closed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for opening and closingthe valve is automatically controlled.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first outlet has a flaredopening.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the valve c0ntrolling meanscomprises a double acting piston, rack and pinion connected to the stemof the valve, said piston being actuated by air flow.

5. A flow proportioning system comprising a fractionating column, acondenser, and an enclosed chamber, said chamber having an inlet, afirst and a second outlet disposed therein, said first outlet beingpositioned to be capable of receiving all of the flow from said inlet,said first outlet having a valve disposed therein, said valve beingpositioned without the enclosed chamber, means adapted for opening andclosing said valve, said second outlet being disposed to receive theflow from said inlet when said valve is closed, one of said outletsbeing connected back to the fractionating column.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,293,257 8/1942 Gunn 137-2623,218,024 11/1965 Kroekel 251-31 XR 769,856 9/ 1904 Curtis 1372642,245,553 6/ 1941 Biedermann et al.

137624.13 X 2,518,574 8/1950 Skopecek 137-62413 X HENRY T. KLINKSIEK,Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

